Be well prepared for a horse trek
Trekking is no longer just a fringe activity in equestrian practised by hard-core outdoor riders. With its flexible design options, it also offers beginners or riders who are more at home in the basic disciplines a nice introduction to exploring nature together with the horse and creating beautiful experiences. To make the adventure of horse trekking a success, you should invest a lot of time in preparation and planning.
We summarise the most important points you should consider before you start.
What is meant by horse trekking?
A horse trekking tour is nothing more than a hike with a horse. From half-day tours to overnight routes lasting several days, trekking has a wide range of possibilities to offer both beginners and advanced riders an adventure tailored to their personal experience and knowledge.
In contrast to competitive riding, horse trekking focuses on the shared experience with the horse, the conscious perception of nature and, last but not least, fun. Horse trekking strengthens the bond between horse and rider, as both must be able to rely on each other to reach their destination safely.
Covering longer distances is also very close to the horse’s natural behaviour and is therefore a welcome change from everyday stable life, especially as tackling different ground conditions can help the horse to become more sure-footed.
Since horse trekkers usually travel in smaller groups, it also strengthens the sense of community among them. Good preparation is the key to horse trekking, so you can also train your organisational skills by planning your own treks. Especially on tours lasting several days, less is more. The focus on the essentials – also in the equestrian sense – ensures that you slow down and learn to keep a cool head even in unknown situations.
What requirements should horse and rider fulfil for trekking?
A horse trekking tour should be planned and prepared with a long lead time, especially if you are embarking on the adventure of trekking for the first time. This also includes dealing with the basic requirements that horse and rider should fulfil before riding with the horse over hill and dale for several hours or even days.
| Requirements for riders | Requirements for horses |
|---|---|
| – Solid basic riding training | – Solid basic training (approx. from 6-8 years) in all gaits and basic obedience |
| – A certain level of physical fitness: on steep paths uphill or downhill, you should dismount and lead. In addition, as a rider you should also be able to mount from the ground at any time. | – Basic physical requirements: > Load-bearing (a compact and short back is ideal) > Healthy hooves (depending on the route, check whether shoeing or hoof boots are necessary) > Good condition |
| – Be well prepared and informed about: > Route planning and map reading > Road traffic rules > First aid measures & knowledge of poisonous plants > Animal care > Regional regulations concerning the right to ride | – Behaviour: > Sure-footed > Strong nerves and calm, even in traffic or with unknown and unexpected stimuli > depending on the route, no fear of water, bridges, tunnels, narrow paths or other obstacles > not be unsettled by unfamiliar surroundings, even when eating or drinking > Good to tie and load > Good to ride at any position in a riding group |
| – Have the necessary equipment: see the Equipment and kit checklist guide | – Well-fitting equipment, especially the saddle must fit optimally |
In order to create the best conditions for a harmonious and safe trek, you should take the time to prepare your horse thoroughly for the loads and requirements at least a few weeks before the planned tour.
How do I organise the training before a horse trek?
Specific training for a horse trek should start at least 6 weeks to 3 months before the planned tour, depending on the level of training. In order to meet the individual requirements for your horse trek, the following basic pillars should be taken into account when designing the training:
1. What is the current training level of the horse?
Is the musculature well developed? What is the training condition of my horse? Are ground work and spook training practised regularly anyway or do I have to invest more time here? What is the state of health of my horse? Are there any physical peculiarities that need to be taken into account during training?
2. Is my horse already familiar with trekking or longer hacks?
If a horse is already experienced in trekking, you can be a little more flexible in the preparations and training. A horse that does not yet have so much experience should be prepared intensively. A well-developed training plan that consciously integrates elements of spook training as well as fitness training and longer hacking is definitely helpful here.
3. How compatible are the character traits of my horse with the requirements of a trek?
A horse that is naturally spooky and shows insecurities in new situations will certainly need a longer preparation time than a horse with strong nerves that is not very impressed by external stimuli. If you are planning regular treks, you should integrate spook training and ground work into the training plan as standard anyway. Take your horse’s character into account. Does your horse show dominant behaviour in a group and is more of a loner? Then it is a good idea to „rehearse“ the situation in advance with the trekking group or other horses and carefully train away any behaviour that could have a negative effect on the group dynamics.
4. What individual requirements does the planned route have and can I specifically take these into account during the preparations?
Streams, bridges, tunnels, narrow paths with deep branches. The better prepared you are for the real obstacles during the horse trek, the better everyone’s safety will be. First play through the situations in familiar surroundings and do a practice run in the immediate vicinity as often as possible. If during the preparations your horse shows extreme fear reactions to certain situations that you will encounter during the trail ride, one should not take unnecessary risks. Postpone the planned tour and, if necessary, work towards your common goal with the help of a professional trainer.
5. What is particularly important to me for the preparation of my horse?
Put together a training plan that also takes your needs into account for the benefit of your horse. Are you a fearful rider and tend to be wary of new situations? If you consciously work on your horse’s fear tolerance, this will also give you more security. Your behaviour also influences your horse’s behaviour. Build a trusting relationship with your horse and work on your personal mindset. If, on the other hand, you are more of an adventurous rider and have great ambitions with regard to horse trekking, for example in terms of the demands and the length of the route, you should also work specifically on your wishes here. Always put your personal requirements in relation to the physical and mental abilities of your horse.
To help you prepare for your horse trek, we have created a training plan for you and your horse. Click here for a free download.
British Horse Society Ride Safe Assessment
Ride Safe is a comprehensive approach to riding safely in all environments, featuring useful tips and tricks on how to stay safe while riding on the road or along bridleways, making it the perfect riding companion for equestrians of both a recreational and competitive nature.
It covers everything from the steps you should take before you leave the yard, to setting off, how to approach sharing routes with other riders, potential hazards, terrain-specific safety advice and more.
How do you plan a horse trek?
There are several ways to plan a horse trek. For beginners, it is worthwhile to enquire at regional horse trekking associations. Here you will often find perfectly planned tours with places to stop for refreshments and overnight stays, which you can easily enter into your GPS device.
If you want to plan your tour yourself and do not have much experience in route planning, you can also use relevant apps that suggest prepared routes. You should always include several maps in your planning. In addition to a topographical map, you should also consider, for example, Google Maps for current road closures and special trekking maps that reliably show which trails are suitable for horses.
Keyword legal situation
Depending on the area, there may be different regulations on where you are allowed to ride and where not. Before riding, please inform yourself comprehensively about which legal regulations must be observed on your route!
Oldschool Equipment
Even though digital devices such as GPS and online maps have become standard, you should also have conventional maps at an appropriate scale (ideally 1:25,000 to 1:50,000) at hand for emergencies and know how to interpret them. A compass should also be carried for orientation. Even if a smartphone combines all these functions, technical failures or flat batteries can still occur. You can find more information about what you need on a horse trek in our kit checklist.
How do you calculate a daily distance?
Usually a stage of 12-19 miles is doable, but this depends on a few factors:
- Training condition and experience of horse and rider
- Condition of the route (gravel, asphalt, natural paths, encounters with other road users)
- Coping with the difference in altitude
- Additional weight due to luggage
- Dynamics of the riding group
- Individual break arrangements
In addition, you should take into account any spontaneous detours that may become necessary due to a route closure or impassable obstacles.
Ideally, especially if you are just starting out on a horse trek, you should set smaller goals and allow for daily stages of about 9 to 12 miles.
The retreat – what to consider?
On a horse trek lasting several days, you should arrange accommodation along the route in advance. Here, the well-being and optimum care for both rider and horse should be guaranteed. In the meantime, there are many regional associations that have developed a network of horseback riding destinations and other places to stop for refreshments. In some cases, it is possible to stop off at these destinations without booking in advance, but if you are planning a longer trek – especially with a larger group – it is advisable to reserve overnight accommodation for horse and rider in advance.
